A wildlife rehabilitator in Australia faces animal cruelty charges for allegedly failing to provide adequate veterinary care to a rescued kangaroo.
Tracy Dods never imagined that caring for rescued wildlife as a WIRES volunteer would land her in a criminal prosecution. From 2016 to 2021, the 54-year-old artist from Kanimbla in the Blue Mountains looked after 278 injured native animals, mostly eastern grey kangaroos. Some were euthanised, while others returned to the wild.
The fate of one, a four-year-old female eastern grey kangaroo named Dolores, is at the heart of an animal cruelty case being watched closely by wildlife carers around NSW who fear similar allegations being made against them.The RSPCA is prosecuting Dods for allegedly failing to provide necessary veterinary treatment for an eastern grey kangaroo in her care, resulting in it “being in such a physical condition it was cruel to keep it alive”. Dods has pleaded not guilty.remains embroiled in internal conflict and dozens of current and former wildlife carers have attended court to support Dods, even travelling from as far as the Riverina. Magistrate Leanne Robinson at Katoomba Local Court heard closing arguments on Wednesday and will share her decision on March 11, four years to the day since the raid on Dods’ home when Dolores was removed and euthanised.Defence solicitor Hal Ginges said the RSPCA was seeking “severe penalties” – that Dods dispose of all animals in her care within 14 days, not keep or care for animals for 20 years, and pay RSPCA for the care of the euthanised animal and legal costs. The court heard that a member of the public found the kangaroo on October 14, 2020, with her legs hanging from a barbed wire fence and called WIRES. A volunteer took the kangaroo to Nepean Animal Hospital for assessment.Head nurse Jess Stone said in her witness statement that the kangaroo had lacerations to both hind legs, exposing the bone. The X-ray showed no broken bones and Stone’s main concern was the risk of infection. WIRES called Dods to ask if she could care for the anima
ANIMALS WILDLIFE CRUELTY AUSTRALIA VOLUNTEERS
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Volunteer Wildlife Carer Faces Animal Cruelty ChargesA volunteer wildlife carer in Australia is facing criminal charges for allegedly failing to provide adequate veterinary care to an injured eastern grey kangaroo.
Read more »
Minibeast Wildlife Hit with Thousands in Incorrect Postage ChargesA Far North Queensland business, Minibeast Wildlife, claims they were incorrectly charged by Australia Post for dozens of underpaid postage fees, amounting to thousands of dollars. The couple alleges the postal service's automatic size and weight scanning technology miscalculated their parcels.
Read more »
Injured wildlife admissions boom at Werribee Zoo amid Melbourne and Geelong's urban sprawlAs the population on Melbourne's western outskirts booms, injured native wildlife admissions at Werribee Zoo's veterinary hospital have surged, according to healthcare providers.
Read more »
Man who threw live chicken to alligators at Oakvale Wildlife Park spared jailPeter William Smith removed the silky bantam chicken from an enclosure at a wildlife park earlier this year before tossing it into the alligator enclosure where it was eaten.
Read more »
Week in wildlife in pictures: a naughty weasel, guard bees and a Sopranos bearThe best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world
Read more »
Judges pick the best pictures in the Nikon Comedy Wildlife AwardsThe competition, which has been going since 2015, offers a place for nature photographers to show off the amusing snapshots they've captured while documenting the natural world.
Read more »